Feliz Navidad

A few years ago, as I was finishing up my BA, I took a Hermeneutics course (course on interpreting the Bible). One of the books I had to read was on Anabaptist Hermeneutics, but it also talked about some of the ¨hermeneutical trends¨in the world and throughout history. One that particularly caught my attention was how the Catholic church started early on to focus on the DEITY of Christ, as well as the Christ CHILD.

I can definitely see this, being here in Ecuador, which is seeped in cultural Catholicism. If you go on to a bus, you will often see the words ¨Niño Divino¨(Divine Child) or there will be a representative picture. People have ¨Niño Divino¨written on their trucks and store fronts or carry around pictures in their pockets.

I remember my frist Christmas in Ecuador I was going to buy little figurines for a Nativity set for a family from the church that had hosted me for a couple of weeks. My Ecuadorian friend who was with me advised against it, however. A lot of Evangelicals here, it seems, frown upon that sort of thing because of the strong Catholic influence and, as my friend said, ¨Jesus didn´t stay a baby.¨

The danger of the emphasis on the Divine Child, the book on hermeneutics that I was reading argues, is that if I believe in the Divine Child, I will most likely be drawn to worship, revere and exonerate Him--but will I FOLLOW Him? How can a mere human be expected to follow in the footsteps of one who is divine? The divide seems to great. And how many adults look to a child to show them how to live?

I think that Evangelicals also fall into a similar trap when we focus on Jesus ¨our Saviour¨but forget that He´s also to be ¨our Lord.¨

So, as we celebrate Christmas, may we remember that we celebrate the birth of our LORD and Saviour, Jesus, who came in the flesh, showed us how to live, and calls people to follow Him. And may we remember that the manger is nothing without the cross and empty tomb.

Merry Christmas!